The Cycle of Grace
Parenting God's Way • Sermon • Submitted
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· 180 viewsWhat is the number one thing Jesus calls us to do? Jesus said if we abide in Him and He in us we will bear much fruit and without Him we can do nothing. In other words, if you understand grace, according to Jesus the key to receiving life changing and empowering grace is to abide in Jesus and Jesus in us. We will look through Scripture to see how abiding is key to grace and how to abide.
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What is the Number One Thing Jesus Calls Us to Do?
What is the Number One Thing Jesus Calls Us to Do?
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
We have to be with Him before we can do for Him. ()
Abiding in Jesus and He in us is the key to fruitfulness in every area and role of life.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
In seeking the kingdom of God we seek the King.
If it is so important shouldn’t we learn and know how to abide? What does abide mean and how do we do it?
For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Before we look at what it means to abide, let’s look at what it means to be fruitful.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Fruit is what is produced from the actions of our mouths and deeds. Jesus is saying that when we abide in Him, and He and His Word in us, we will bear much fruit to the glory of God. What might this fruit look like?
Peace, Joy, and Hope (; ) We will see why later.
Blessed Family () Abiding and walking in the fear of the Lord are the same.
Miracles
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house. 8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Notice what Jesus said of Himself in .
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
You see Jesus was able to do the works He did because He abided in the Father and the Father in Him. After we have looked at what it means to abide, we will come back to this and see how Jesus is our example of abiding and bearing fruit to the glory of God.
μένω (aor. ἔμεινα, impv. μέινον, inf. μεῖναι; plpf. 3 pl. μεμενήκεισαν ) intrans. remain, stay, abide; live, dwell; last, endure, continue; trans. await, wait for
Newman, B. M., Jr. (1993). A Concise Greek-English dictionary of the New Testament. (p. 113). Stuttgart, Germany: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft; United Bible Societies.
I want you to notice that abiding in Jesus contains the idea and practice of continuing. I’m going to teach you how I understand abiding with a phrase and in depth explanation of the phrase.
How to we abide? By maintaining the Cycle of Grace.
How to we abide? By maintaining the Cycle of Grace.
In other words maintaining the Cycle of Grace is synonymous with abiding in Jesus, so we will see why that is synonymous, and as we learn to have and maintain the Cycle of Grace, we will learn to abide in Jesus and He in us, and in doing so be in position to bear much fruit to the glory of God- even in our parenting.
Before I tell you what the Cycle of Grace is let’s:
1. look at what a cycle is and define grace.
So we are going to pull out and identify all the pieces of the puzzle and then put them together, keeping in mind the goal- learning where to start in fulfilling our God-given role as parents, and not only where to start; but how to start and continue.
2. Once we define cycle and grace, we will look at the elements of the cycle and put it all together.
Grace Defined
Grace Defined
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The grace of God is generally defined as being His unmerited favor. It is something that we can not earn, but is given to us freely. Favor requires power.
To act favorably toward someone has many implications. To act favorably toward someone is to help them and bless them in a way that brings peace, joy, and other blessings. That is what God in His grace does.
It takes power to help and bless, and so God’s grace contains His power.
Let’s look at that in God’s Word.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 cor 12 9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Notice grace, strength, and power are used interchangeably- so God’s grace contains God’s power.
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The same Greek word translated strong in 2 Timothy is translated strong in
2 tim 2:1-2
2 tim
The same Greek word translated strong in 2 Timothy is translated strong in
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
God’s grace is God’s power (, , to:
Power to “do” ()
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2. Power to “be” (, )
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
To borrow from Jack Hayford, grace is a force as well as a favor. Joyce Meyer puts it this way, “grace is the power to change us and change our circumstances.”
I define God’s grace as His power to be and do.
Grace is also:
Recognizable (; )
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
2. Free ()
3. For the Past, Present, and Future (; )
4. Grace is Impart-able (; , ; )
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
5. Grace (the power of God to be and do) in Increase-able (
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
- We are to grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. () As we grow in grace we grow in the power of God to be and do.
- We are to grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2)
- We are to grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2)
The New King James Version Chapter 3
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 peter 3 17-18
- We are to grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
We must grow in grace. In other words the measure of grace must increase in our lives as we seek to come to know Christ in a more intimate way. As we grow in grace we will have more victory and blessings in our life. When troubles come instead of fearing, worrying, and complaining we will rejoice knowing that God will help us, we will rejoice that He will have a chance to be glorified in our circumstances, and we will rejoice knowing that the trying of our faith makes us more Christ like. As we grow in grace we will be helped and be able to better help others. Think about your needs right now. Think about your desires right now- good or bad. The grace of God is for those needs and desire.
Now we are ready for the Cycle of Grace
When I was preparing to speak at the men’s retreat in May of 2005 or 2006. I was thinking about how much I was emphasizing prayer. I didn’t want to leave the importance of God’s word left unspoken, so a phrase came to me. It is pray, study, and obey and you will be ok.
As I was preparing to speak at the church in June I was giving it some more thought. I was thinking about as we pray to God, asking to know Him better, asking Him to make us into what He wants us to be, asking Him to equip us with every good thing to do His will, asking Him to teach us and instruct us in the way we should go, as we ask Him those things He leads us to His word with understanding. He directs us to the very same word that often tells us to pray. I saw that successful/fruitful prayer and the study of God’s word are interdependent on each other, that is was a continuous cycle. Without prayer we do not know, and without God’s word we do not and can not pray.
So I began to see that the flow of God’s grace to us follows a cycle, and the more complete and consistent the cycle, the greater measure of grace in our lives.
The Cycle of Grace
The Cycle of Grace
What is a cycle? A cycle is a series of events that is repeated over and over again.
A cycle is a series of events that is repeated over and over again.
The water cycle gives us rain. Water is evaporated and as it condenses in the sky clouds are formed and the water returns to the earth as rain. If an element of that cycle is taken out we have no rain. If there is no evaporation we have no rain, and if there is no condensation again we have no rain.
A car engine is cyclic in nature. Take a 4 cylinder car for example. If one of those cylinders that produce combustion stops, the engine loses power. It doesn’t stop running all together, but its power is greatly reduced.
The cycle of grace (pray, study, and obey) is similar. If one element is removed then we reduce the flow of God’s grace in our lives.
Let’s look at the elements of the cycle of grace, remembering we are pulling out the pieces of the puzzle, and at the end we will put it all together, but first let’s look again at .
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Now do you see that Jesus is talking about receiving grace by abiding in Him and He and His Word in us?
The first component of the cycle we will look at is the study of god’s Word in receiving and growing in grace, because it first in importance. As we saw in we can not pray effectively apart from the Word of God, and we have nothing to obey apart from the Word of God.
PARTS OF THE CYCLE
1. STUDY God’s Word is a source of grace. (, )
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
3
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 tim 3 16
God’s Word contains His grace, but how does it become released in our lives?
Meditation
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
ps 1
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.
24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
2. PRAYER is a source of grace (, )
2. PRAYER is a source of grace (, )
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4336. προσεύχομαι proseúchomai
Proseúchomai embraces all that is included in the idea of prayer, i.e., thanks, requesting special things;
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 4314. πρός prós
4314. πρός prós; prep. governing the gen., dat., and acc. and corresponding in its basic meaning to the primary force of these cases themselves. Toward.
(I) With the gen., implying motion or direction from a place, hither. Also in the direction of a place meaning at or toward. Figuratively of the source, agent, or cause from which something comes or proceeds. Also expressing dependence or relation of any kind from or with someone, the pertaining or belonging in any way to a person or thing. In the NT, used once, figuratively meaning pertaining to, for, for the benefit of (Acts 27:34).
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
heb 4 16
So when in God gives us an open invitation to come to His throne to find grace, He is talking about prayer in different forms of expression, and we see that our prayer and God’s response is a source of grace.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The Word of God does not bear fruit in your life unless you understand it. Understanding come in answer to prayer (, ,
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
matt 13 21-23
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
9
Before we talk about the role of prayer in receiving and growing in grace, let’s look at how the Spirit and the Word work together. If you can get this it will help you in several areas in your personal life, but also in understanding how the Body of Christ should function, which in turn can help you in prayer for saints and the Church.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Before we talk about the role of prayer in receiving and growing in grace, let’s look at how the Spirit and the Word work together. If you can get this it will help you in several areas in your personal life, but also in understanding how the Body of Christ should function, which in turn can help you in prayer for saints and the Church.
Before we talk about the role of prayer in receiving and growing in grace, let’s look at how the Spirit and the Word work together. If you can get this it will help you in several areas in your personal life, but also in understanding how the Body of Christ should function, which in turn can help you in prayer for saints and the Church.
THE SPIRIT and the WORD WORK TOGETHER (,
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
21 “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
ephesians 6 18
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
luke
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
The Holy Spirit Our Helper in Prayer & the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
gen 1
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Together Prayer and Study Bring Faith for Fruit
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
rhēma). n. neut. word. A word; something that is said.
This word is the second most frequent translation of Hebrew דָּבָר (dābār, “word”) in the Septuagint. The word rhēma primarily refers to things spoken, including words (e.g., Acts 16:38) and the content of what is said (e.g., Acts 11:14). It is especially relevant to the topic of divine revelation when it occurs in the phrases ῥῆμα θεοῦ (rhēma theou, “word of God”) and ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ (rhēmata tou theou, “words of God”). Luke 3:2 says that the word of God (rhēma theou) came to John the Baptist in the wilderness; this harks back to the OT depiction of a prophet as one who hears the word of God (1 Kgs 17:2). In the Gospel of John, the phrase rhēmata tou theou refers to the message from God that Jesus speaks (John 3:34; 8:47).
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
ῥῆμα
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
mark 11 23-34
αἰτέω (aiteō). vb. to ask for, to demand, to plead for. This verb can be used to indicate requesting things of God.
The word aiteō sometimes appears in combination with other prayer words, like προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai, “to pray”; Matt 21:22; Col 1:9; in both instances, the sense is asking [aiteō] for something in prayer [προσευχή, proseuchē] or while praying [proseuchomai]). One may also aiteō while kneeling (γονυπετέω, gonypeteō; Mark 1:40; 10:17) to express humility. There is a notable emphasis throughout the NT that whenever a request is made of God, he hears it (Matt 6:8; 18:19; John 14:13; 15:7, 16; Jas 1:5). The related noun αἴτημα (aitēma, “request”) refers to the request or demand being made. Twice in the NT (Phil 4:6; 1 John 5:15), it refers to requests made to God (i.e., prayers).
ἐρωτάω (erōtaō). vb. to ask, to ask a question, to request. This verb can be used to indicate requesting things of God.
This verb, like αἰτέω (aiteō, “to ask for”), indicates making a request. It differs from aiteō, however, in that aiteō expresses a more forceful request, while erōtaō is more intimate and perhaps also less self-serving. It is also notable that aiteō is never used to refer to Jesus’ own requests and prayers; for that purpose, erōtaō or deomai is used instead (Luke 22:32; John 14:16). The verb erōtaō is particularly common in the Gospel of John. It is sometimes used to indicate asking things of God or praying (e.g., John 14:16; 16:23; 17:9; 1 John 5:16).
For example, when we are maintaining the cycle of grace, or abiding, we can have the faith to obey what God tells us through in .
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Because we are maintaining the Cycle of Grace and Abiding, we are increasingly coming to know our faithful and loving Father and Savior as we hear His voice and enter His presence.
phili 4 4 9
3. OBEY Obedience bring the grace of the Word and prayer to fruition.
(;
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
luke
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Wherefore, having put away every moral uncleanness and vulgarity and wickedness which is abounding, in meekness receive the implanted Word which is able to save your souls.
22–25 Moreover, keep on becoming doers of the Word and stop being hearers only, reasoning yourselves into a false premise and thus deceiving yourselves, because if, as is the case, anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, this one is like a man attentively considering in a mirror the face with which he was born. For he took one look at himself and was off, and he immediately forgot what sort of a person he was. But he who with eagerness and concentration has pored over the perfect law, the law of liberty, and has continued in it, not having been a hearer who forgets but a doer who works, this person shall be prospered spiritually in his doing.
24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
heb 4
16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
His words- have them, keep them, see Him (John 14:21)
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Cycle of Grace
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Cycle of Grace
heb 10
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
He is the Spirit of grace. He is our Helper and Teacher. Without the Holy Spirit we can not maintain the Cycle of Grace. (
27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Our Role- Be Diligent (
Our Role- Be Diligent (
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Putting It All Together
1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. 10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. 10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,
prover
Jesus our Example
He did not live on earth as omnipotent and omniscient
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 cor
2. Jesus Depended on the Holy Spirit, Hearing and Learning from the Holy Spirit
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
4 “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.
32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
john
28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
3. Jesus Studied
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
luk
4. Jesus Prayed
ma
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
In fact, He went from place of prayer, to place of prayer, with miracles in between.
5. Jesus Obeyed
4 “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.
is 5
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Notice Jesus did not do the work He personally conceived, but He did the work He received. We have to do the same as Jesus. We have to be with the Father, hear His voice, receive His heart and plan with a mindset to obey, and then do what we have received not conceived on our own. If we do what we conceive apart from the Holy Spirit we will have to carry it out in the strength of our flesh, and our flesh creates nothing to the glory of God, but that which is painful and destructive.
In Closing
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Christ’s strength for task, challenge and journey we face is found by abiding in Him or maintaining the Cycle of Grace.